Traveling to Gordon's residence took longer than necessary, but was uneventful. V was quite sure that they had not been spotted, or at least, recognized for who they were. When they arrived, the grounds were quiet...a strange appearance, but it proved Gordon had made well on his promise to keep their arrival as secret as possible. V felt a surge of uncertainty as Evey led him around the back, feeling exposed and vulnerable. They entered through the back, stepping into a deserted kitchen. Evey shut and latched the door, then motioned for V to follow her.
They were being watched. V could feel it, despite the vacancy of their surroundings. Cameras, he surmised, but even those he could not see without further study.
"It's alright, V." Evey said softly, as if she could sense his apprehension.
Eventually they came to stop in front of a door, which Evey tapped lightly before opening. Inside, Dominic Stone was seated on a plush chair in the corner of the room. As they entered, he rose, smiling broadly. Gordon was behind his desk, a handful of papers gripped between his fingers. The moment he saw them, the papers were abandoned into a pile. Gordon stood, immediately stepping around his desk to engulf Evey in a tight embrace. "Oh Evey, how I worried for you!" His voice was muffled against her hair, but V could very much hear the relief in his voice. "You should have let me give you a lift, you crazy woman!"
Evey was smiling. "I know, Gordon. I'm sorry I scared you. I wasn't thinking too clearly."
Gordon released her, shaking his head as his gaze shifted to V. "If you have liquor in your home, best hide it. 'Not thinking clearly,' she says! As if she hadn't drank herself silly."
V shifted uncomfortably. How peculiar that he should feel so comfortable in the company of those he intended to kill, but in friendly circumstance, he was at a loss.
Dominic stepped forward, reaching out a hand. "Hello V. We've met...sort of...but unofficially, and in the wrong sides. I'm Dominic."
V reached and took Dom's hand in a firm shake. Yes, yes they had met. And if not for Evey, Dom very well might have stopped the whole thing before it had begun. V admired him. "Yes, I do remember. Good to meet you, Dominic."
Evey patted Dom on the back. "I already apologized for that little smack on the back of the head," she said, grinning.
"I'd not anger her too badly if I were you," Dom said with a chuckle. "At least, when she has a weapon."
"Noted," V said, a faint grin hidden behind the ever laughing face of Fawkes.
Gordon extended his hand. V took it with his own gloved one, peering inquisitively at the man who was now the country's leader. V thought there could not have been a better choice made by the people, had thought that from the start. Who better to lead a country than a man that knew the true horrors of the reign before him? Who better to never let it happen again?
"V," Gordon said softly. "I had always wished to meet you, and despaired when I had learned of your...demise. How wonderful it is that I now have this chance, for I wish to thank you. For beginning the revolution, for putting the war in motion. I shall never forget when I first saw your broadcast. It was the first time, I think, that I had felt hope in all of my adult life. Hope for a new life. For a new beginning. So thank you, V...for everything."
V, a great lover of language and of words, found himself with an utter lack following such heartfelt gratitude. Gordon was thanking him...but it was Gordon himself who deserved the praise. He had suffered, sacrificed, and rose above it all to lead the country. He had been there for Evey when V couldn't...wouldn't. V had never had much cause for gratitude, but he did feel it for Gordon, the same as he felt it for Eric Finch.
"I'm sorry I could not save you the night they came for you," he said finally. "It is I who must thank you. You've done wondrous things for this country...and you have kept Evey safe. It is a debt that cannot be repaid."
Gordon released his hand, smiling warmly. "Think nothing of it, friend."
The awkwardness of the visit melted away after that. The four of them went to the lounge, where Gordon served champagne and small sandwiches. V respectfully declined, unable to consume anything with his mask on. He did not hunger and was not thirsty, anyway. A long time ago, he had noticed that he did not require nourishment quite as frequently as others. Just another piece of his humanity that Larkhill had stolen.
The conversation was light, and drew on deep into the afternoon. V found he was actually enjoying himself in the company of these two good men. It was a good feeling, albeit strange. Further, Evey looked so happy...V was certain he would do anything she wanted, so long as she looked just as happy as she did, right there in that moment.
Eventually, and quite understandably, talk turned toward the revolution. "We must keep pushing," Gordon said. "They mustn't think their attack has weakened our resolve. Our militia forces are strengthening, but people are scared."
"Can you blame them? After all they've been through?" Evey sighed. "It won't help to have them see militarization. They've seen that their whole lives."
"But it would help to see unity," Dom said quietly.
"We have help from neighboring countries. We've been transparent about our humanitarian aids to America's crisis and our plans at establishing a fair government," Gordon said. "They must know we are here for them."
"Yes, we've been transparent about most things," Dominic agreed. "But not all things." His gaze came to a rest on V.
V shook his head. "My part in the public eye came to an end a year ago, Dominic."
"Just think about it, V! If they knew you were alive, it would renew their hope. You made them fearless, you are the very face of the revolution!" Dom persisted.
"No," V said quietly. "Evey is, since my demise."
Evey shook her head. "I made a poor substitute for you, V." She looked at him, frowning. "I don't want you to have to take the spotlight again...but in a way, Dom has a point. If the people hear that you're alive from anyone else but us, they'll feel lied to. Betrayed. It will make us look no different than the others."
"Minus the torture and insane laws," Gordon mumbled. "It is a good point, however."
V was frowning deeply behind the mask of Fawkes. He could see the logic, but he had sworn he was done with his mission. What he'd been willing to do to Evey in the name of the revolution had awoken him to just how ruthless he'd been about his beliefs. He'd been willing to stop at nothing...nothing...ensure his success. If he got back into the war, he feared the old rage, the old drive for revenge would take him over completely again.
Evey, he knew, would be at risk.
"Please," he said finally. "I do understand the point you've all made. But I...I can be dangerous. Even when I might not mean to be. It's best that I have no influence on the government you are building."
Gordon was frowning. "V, what danger could you possibly be? You've gotten your revenge. There is no longer anyone left that could possibly be at risk."
"He means me." Evey said softly. "Don't you, V?"
V stared at her. If she could see his eyes-his true eyes- she would see just how scared for her he was. He never wanted to hurt her...never, but he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't, could he? "Yes," he said simply.
"We'll see to it that she's protected," Dom promised. "You must know we'd do everything to keep Evey safe. It's been our priority since the beginning."
He could never tell them the truth. That it wasn't the resistors that he feared harming her...but himself. He couldn't tell that Larkhill had created a monster, just as Evey had said so long ago. And while he'd conquered much, something so simple as relationships was foreign to him. Before Evey, he'd been nothing more than a seething mess of hatred. That had been resolved...but he was still the man that had tortured her. He hated himself for it...and he scared himself, too. But these things were not something V knew how to give voice to...especially to two men he did not know very well.
"Please think about it, V. It would give our people so much hope." Evey said gently, placing her hand on his knee.
V remained silent for a long while, before finally looking up at her. Her beautiful eyes were trained on him, and there was a gentle smile resting on her lips. Oh, his Evey...his trusting, hopeful Evey. "I must think," V said finally. "Let this rest until after the holiday. Christmas is not far away, and I expect if I choose to reveal myself, there will be a backlash from the resistors. Let our people enjoy these next weeks. I will provide you an answer by the dawn of the new year."
Dom let out a sigh of relief, as if the matter was already closed and V had agreed. Clearly, he thought the odds of V going through with it were good.
Gordon nodded, as if that's what he expected. "That is a fair request. We must be careful, however, that the wrong person does not lay eyes on you in that time."
V shrugged the wide berth of his shoulders. "Luck would have it that I am not a particularly social man." He said, not unkindly. "I will stay as concealed as possible."
"Good," Gordon said with a smile.
The evening drew closer, and when Gordon eventually asked if they would like to dine with them at supper, he and Evey decided to take their leave. Evey hugged both men, and V shook their hands.
"It was good to meet you, V." Dom said with a smile.
"Ah, much better than good. It was great to finally shake the hand of the man who put all of this in motion." Gordon chimed in.
"Thank you both. Thank you for everything," V said, and he meant every word.
That evening, V cooked a dinner of scallops simmered in a creamy butter sauce, pasta, and side of thick toasted garlic bread. Evey had raved about the meal, begging him to try some. V simply told her he would take his meal later, and that he enjoyed watching her enjoy herself. Evey had stopped pressing the issue, but he could clearly see it aggravated her that he refused to remove his mask in front of her. He was sorry for that, but it was just how things needed to be.
"Where did you learn to cook like this?" She asked after she had emptied her plate.
"I have always been a man with much time on my hands, Evey. Revenge, you could say was my job, but I have many hobbies. Cooking is just one of them," he told her.
She was smiling. "So mysterious," she said. "Cooking, dancing, gardening, fencing...and yet, there's more? You do know how to keep yourself busy."
V shrugged. "When you have little need for sleep, there are many vacant hours to fill."
"It sounds wonderful...and yet...lonely, too." She remarked.
"Yes," V agreed. "Quite lonely. You are the only person who has ever been inside these walls...and your company has always been a blessing."
Evey reached out and squeezed his gloved hand. "Well, those lonely days are over, I think." With a smile, she rose and collected her plate. "I'll clean up. It's only fair after you cooked such a delightful meal."
V rose as well. "Normally, I would protest...yet I do need to shower."
Evey put her plate in the sink, then picked up the one she had made up for him. "And eat." She said sternly, pushing it into his hands.
"Yes...yes, I will eat as well." V promised. "You'll be alright?"
Evey simply stood on her tip toes, pressing her lips against the smooth ones of Fawkes. "Of course," she murmured. "Don't worry so much."
Though she couldn't see it, V was smiling as well. He took leave of her, traveling back to his quarters with his plate in hand. After removing his mask, he took his plate and sat on the edge of the bed to eat. The food was still warm, and he ate it all. Refreshed, he made his way to the bathroom that adjoined his quarters to undress.
There were no mirrors in this room, not overlooked but unwanted. V was not fond of reminding himself of his looks; seeing his own scarred flesh in the shower was plenty to remind him that he looked less human than he felt. He undressed, careful of the last few compression layers he wore to sooth his damaged skin. Nude, he started the shower and the ritual of his cares.
As V rubbed his specialized soap over his flame ravaged body, he couldn't help but wonder what Evey would think if she ever saw him in such a way. The thick, knotted scar tissue, the angry marks where the fire had burned clear to the bone. Where the burns had been lesser, his flesh was shiny and taut. Even his hands lacked normal lines and fingerprints. Some of his flesh was deadened to touch, the nerves destroyed. Other parts suffered hypersensitivity, where even the slightest pressure brought on a wince of a pain. There was no part of him that had been spared. His was not the body of a normal man, and the sight of it repulsed him. Evey did not deserve such a monstrous appearance...she deserved to be able to look upon her partner with attraction. V knew intimacy was a natural part of any relationship, but it was not something he thought he would be able to offer.
Best not to think of that. He could already feel his anxiety over the matter blooming, and now was not the time to engage in that.
When he was finished showering, V began to apply the creams and lotions that made wearing such ruined flesh more comfortable. There was a faint medicinal scent, and V immediately felt the cooling sensation beginning to seep into his pores. When he was finished, he dressed quickly, wanting to rid himself of the sight of his own body. His mask and wig were fixed back into place, concealing the rest of him. When he emerged, he found Evey curled on the couch, watching the Count of Monte Cristo. He had not watched it since he'd seen it with her. Oh, how much had changed since that day.
"Welcome back," Evey said, smiling at him. "I thought we'd have ourselves a movie night. I know we've both already seen it...but I wanted to make a better memory."
V faltered, stricken by her beauty, her reality, and the moment. That he didn't deserve her was a mantra that played in his heart.
"V?" She asked, her smile fading. "Are you alright?"
Giving himself a mental shake, V nodded. "Yes, yes. Quite fine, actually." He moved to the couch, taking a seat next to her. "I haven't watched this since the last time...with you."
"I watched it while we were apart. I have a feeling it won't make me feel sad this time, though." She said.
V nodded. "Those days are over, Evey. Regardless of the conversation we had today, I have faith that things will continue to progress until this country is healed. I will not succumb to my previous ways." It was a promise just as much to himself as it was to her. He could not risk hurting her, not ever again. No matter what that entailed.
"I trust you, V." She murmured.
"I've never deserved your trust, Evey. But thank you. I'll not betray it this time." He told her.
Evey shook her head. "You've deserved a lot better than you've ever gotten. Eventually, you'll realize that." She curled against his side, burrowing her way under his arm. V stiffened momentarily...it was a strange sensation, to have someone so close to him...but then allowed himself to wrap his arm around her slim waist.
"You have no idea how many nights I laid awake, wishing for just this," Evey said on the tail of a happy sigh.
"Yes, I do." He murmured. Her hair shone against the dull light. V allowed himself to touch a strand, watching fascinated as the curl coiled around his finger. "For I have dreamt the same."
She looked up at him, a dreamy little smile on her face. "Will you sleep next to me tonight, V?"
He thought of the night before...of Evey's head on his chest, her arm draped over his stomach. She had looked like an angel, peaceful and perfect and utterly untouchable. He remembered the fresh scent of her hair, and how badly he wanted to stroke his fingers through those curls. He'd been able to feel her curves pressed against his side, soft and foreign in contrast with his own hard and angular figure. V had been ready for sleep, needed it in fact...but it had not come easy. He'd been far too lost in the reality of her presence to want to close his eyes. Eventually, exhaustion had won, and he'd known a couple of hours of rest.
"I slept some last night," he said. "I don't sleep quite as much as I used to. But I would be happy to try," he answered. Though being next to Evey, with her body curled around him, gave him lustful thoughts, he simply wasn't strong enough to deny her request."Thank you," she said.
"Gratitude is never needed when it involves being close to you," he told her truthfully.
She didn't make it to the end of the movie, dozing instead with her head on his chest. V remained still for hours after, simply watching her as she slept. He wondered what she dreamt of. He wondered how a man such as him could be allowed such an angel. Most of all, he wondered if it would last...if it could last.